Archive Trap MTG Card


Archive Trap accelerates mill strategies by potentially milling thirteen cards instantaneously. Instant speed enables reactive play, significantly disrupting opponent strategies with no mana cost. Opponent dependency and specific mana costs can be both a strength and a limitation.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeInstant — Trap
Abilities Mill

Text of card

If an opponent searched his or her library this turn, you may pay rather than pay Archive Trap's mana cost. Target opponent puts the top thirteen cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.


Cards like Archive Trap

Archive Trap has carved its niche amongst trap cards in Magic: The Gathering, specifically within the realm of mill strategy. It’s often compared to other mill cards like Glimpse the Unthinkable, which also aggressively targets an opponent’s library by milling a significant number of cards. Yet, Archive Trap is distinct with its potential for a zero-mana cost if an opponent searches their library – a feature Glimpse the Unthinkable lacks.

Another card that operates in the same space is Hedron Crab, offering a consistent, albeit smaller, milling effect with its landfall ability. However, unlike Hedron Crab’s incremental approach, Archive Trap can alter the game dramatically in a single instance. Mind Funeral also shares similarities, milling an opponent until they reveal a specific amount of land cards, introducing variability that Archive Trap doesn’t have since its milling quantity is a fixed and predictable number.

Ultimately, for players looking to disrupt their opponent’s strategy right off the bat, Archive Trap excels in the milling category. Its unique cost condition can catch opponents off guard, potentially milling a quarter of their deck in one play, making it a formidable option for any deck focused on this strategy.

Glimpse the Unthinkable - MTG Card versions
Hedron Crab - MTG Card versions
Mind Funeral - MTG Card versions
Glimpse the Unthinkable - MTG Card versions
Hedron Crab - MTG Card versions
Mind Funeral - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Archive Trap by color, type and mana cost

Desertion - MTG Card versions
Force of Will - MTG Card versions
Evacuation - MTG Card versions
Double Take - MTG Card versions
Sunder - MTG Card versions
Submerge - MTG Card versions
Misdirection - MTG Card versions
Gush - MTG Card versions
Fervent Denial - MTG Card versions
Perplexing Test - MTG Card versions
Graven Lore - MTG Card versions
Access Denied - MTG Card versions
Counterbore - MTG Card versions
Traumatic Visions - MTG Card versions
Whiplash Trap - MTG Card versions
Mysteries of the Deep - MTG Card versions
Jace's Ingenuity - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Geyser - MTG Card versions
Lost in the Mist - MTG Card versions
Psychic Spiral - MTG Card versions
Desertion - MTG Card versions
Force of Will - MTG Card versions
Evacuation - MTG Card versions
Double Take - MTG Card versions
Sunder - MTG Card versions
Submerge - MTG Card versions
Misdirection - MTG Card versions
Gush - MTG Card versions
Fervent Denial - MTG Card versions
Perplexing Test - MTG Card versions
Graven Lore - MTG Card versions
Access Denied - MTG Card versions
Counterbore - MTG Card versions
Traumatic Visions - MTG Card versions
Whiplash Trap - MTG Card versions
Mysteries of the Deep - MTG Card versions
Jace's Ingenuity - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Geyser - MTG Card versions
Lost in the Mist - MTG Card versions
Psychic Spiral - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Archive Trap. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Dimir MillDimir Mill ModernMillModern Preliminary 2024-05-01 (1)
Azorius MillAzorius Mill ModernMillModern Challenge 64 2024-05-06
Mono-Blue MillMono-Blue Mill ModernMillModern Challenge 32 2024-05-11

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Archive Trap offers a substantial boost in card advantage by allowing you to potentially mill thirteen cards from your opponent’s library straight into their graveyard. This card can significantly thin out an opponent’s deck, increasing the chances they’ll draw into less useful cards as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: Although Archive Trap itself doesn’t directly provide traditional mana acceleration, it can indirectly speed up your game plan in mill strategies. By removing key pieces from the opponent’s deck, it accelerates your path to victory by depleting their resources much faster than normal gameplay would allow.

Instant Speed: Archive Trap’s strength is magnified by its ability to be cast at instant speed. This flexibility enables you to respond to your opponent shuffling their library, which can occur during their turn, and then immediately mill them for a sizeable amount of cards. Furthermore, if an opponent searches their library, you can cast Archive Trap for zero mana, potentially disrupting their play with no cost to your resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Archive Trap is that it hinges on an opponent searching their library before it can be cast for its alternative cost. If your opponent doesn’t execute a search, you might be stuck with a card that simply isn’t actionable when you need it the most.

Specific Mana Cost: Archive Trap’s mana cost requires two blue mana specifically. This could limit the card’s integration in multi-colored decks or decks that are not primarily blue, potentially hindering its strategic use in a variety of situations because of its color specificity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a default mana cost of three generic and two blue mana, Archive Trap can be on the pricier side compared to other instant cards. While the mill effect of thirteen cards is significant, the cost may deem it less appealing compared to lower-cost alternatives that can disrupt an opponent’s strategy without such a substantial mana investment.


Reasons to Include Archive Trap in Your Collection

Versatility: Archive Trap can slot into any mill-focused deck as a powerful tool. The ability to potentially cast it for zero mana gives it an edge in situations where opponents search their libraries, which is a common occurrence in many formats.

Combo Potential: This card can quickly become a game-changer when paired with cards that force opponents to search their libraries, complementing mill strategies and potentially ending games out of nowhere.

Meta-Relevance: With the advent of tutor-heavy decks and strategies that rely on fetching specific cards, Archive Trap’s relevance in the contemporary metagame cannot be overstated. It serves as both a deterrent and a potent weapon against such tactics.


How to beat

Archive Trap is a notorious card in Magic: The Gathering that can catch unwary players off guard with its potent milling ability. Notably, Archive Trap zeroes in on the library, a player’s source of strategic resources, sending a substantial chunk of it directly into the graveyard. Given its potential to be cast at no cost when an opponent searches their library, it becomes a significant threat to anyone relying on tutors or fetch lands.

To effectively counter this card, players should be mindful of their library search actions. Alternatives like playing cards that allow you to draw without searching your library can mitigate the risk of triggering Archive Trap’s free casting condition. Also, deck building with cards designed to reshuffle the graveyard back into the library can diminish its impact. Counterspells are another reliable method of protection against Archive Trap’s abrupt milling, disrupting the card before it can take effect. As with other strategies, anticipation and preparation are key. By adapting to the presence of Archive Trap in your opponent’s deck, you can preserve your library and maintain your game plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

For those who steer their game with strategy and foresight, the inclusion of Archive Trap can be a testament to your tactical genius. Recognize its power in the mill archetype and the potential surprise factor it introduces when your opponent searches their library. Optimizing a deck around this card can yield devastating results, tipping the scales in your favor. Be wary of its limitations and prepare for scenarios when it may not be advantageous. If you’re intrigued by melding control with cunning, then deepening your understanding of Archive Trap is a move worth considering. Engage with us further to refine your skills and deploy Archive Trap to its fullest potential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Archive Trap MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and The List, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Archive Trap and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Archive Trap Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-10-02ZendikarZEN 412003NormalBlackJason Felix
22020-09-26The ListPLST ZEN-412003NormalBlackJason Felix
32024-04-19Breaking NewsOTP 72015NormalBorderlessWilliam Tempest

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Archive Trap has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Archive Trap card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2009-10-01 A spell or ability causes a player to search their library only if it specifically contains the word “search” in its text. For example, if a spell or ability lets a player look at the top four cards of their library and do something with one of those cards, that’s not a search.
2009-10-01 Archive Trap checks only whether an opponent searched their library. It doesn’t matter whether that player found a card during the search.
2009-10-01 Casting a Trap by paying its alternative cost doesn’t change its mana cost or mana value. The only difference is the cost you actually pay.
2009-10-01 Effects that increase or reduce the cost to cast a Trap will apply to whichever cost you chose to pay.
2009-10-01 If a search effect is affected by Aven Mindcensor’s ability (which causes a player to search the top four cards of their library instead), that still counts as searching that library.
2009-10-01 If the targeted opponent has fewer than thirteen cards in their library, that player puts their entire library into their graveyard.
2009-10-01 The opponent you target doesn’t have to be the opponent who searched their library.
2009-10-01 You may ignore a Trap’s alternative cost condition and simply cast it for its normal mana cost. This is true even if its alternative cost condition has been met.